The Waterbabies

I shall look for it. I loved The Waterbabies and can picture the book cover still (I'm 76).

I didn't know. Probably my favourite childhood book, I read it to my children when they were quite young. I wish I still had my original. I've bought it several times over not only for mine, but as a gift for friends' and family's children.

Thank you! I’ve just checked and it’s still available. I’ve just finished listening to The Dark is Rising on BBC Sounds. I started listening to it but then decided to try to read the book because I listened to all of it. Alas, I’m a terribly slow reader these days so, last week I gave up and listened to the remaining episodes. I’ll now listen to The Water Babies..

Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby!,

Tom the chimney sweep who drowns and becomes a water baby. I love this story it is full of fantasy and sub-text.

Ah, yes, Mrs Do-as-you-would-be-done-by and Mrs Be-done-by-as-you-did. Unforgettable.

This was the one book (I an avid childhood reader) hated and couldnt get on with. I might try again with adult eyes

jenpax

This was the one book (I an avid childhood reader) hated and couldnt get on with. I might try again with adult eyes

Looking it up on Wikipedia’d I’ve realised it was all about Darwin’s theory of evolution which the author had received a copy of and is about the environment etc. And, along with Black Beauty being written as a reaction to the way horses were treated at the time it was written to highlight how badly children were treated. So it’s a far more complicated story than I’d realised. It isn’t a book that I’ve ever read or known much about.

Memories of reading it as a child, maybe around 8, my perception of when Tom fell into the water, it didn't occur to me he'd drowned, I assumed he'd been regenerated, given another chance at life with a moral guidance from Mrs Do-as-you-would-be-done-by for a better outcome. A life less wretched, it was only years later as an adult I realise he'd died. I found it on BBC sounds so I'll listen to it an opportunity to revisit a much loved book.

I didn't particularly like it as a child. I have no idea why, as I read voraciously. As an adult, I appreciate the message. However, I did love The Dark is Rising although I didn't read it until I was an adult. A fabulous series of books.

I disliked this book as a child; would even go so far as to say it traumatised me. I can even now remember the illustrations which disturbs me.

I well remember being in floods of tears (unusual for me then) on finished the book, and my bemused father asking me what was wrong. I don’t recall how old I was but no more than 9, since we moved from that house before I was 10.

On finishing! Blasted autocorrect…

My mother and I read this book between us. No idea why my Mum thought it at all suitable for a 4=year old learning to read. But each evening, she would read some and I would then try to read out loud a few lines. Did not understand one bit of it. Mind you back then, (mid 40's) not much choice.

I loved it as a child!

🤔

I’ve read it recently and it brought back memories. Love this book.